Unit 2
Session duration: 6 academic hours, including:
- Lecture: 2 h,
- Workshop: 3 h,
- Reflection: 1h
Learning objectives:
By the end of this unit, students will be able to:
- Identify key diseases that are sensitive to climate factors such as temperature, rainfall, and humidity.
- Explain the direct and indirect health impacts of extreme weather events (heatwaves, floods, wildfires, storms).
- Analyze case studies of recent climate-related health crises (Dengue outbreaks, heatwave mortality, cholera after floods).
- Evaluate adaptation and early warning systems for climate-sensitive disease prevention.
- Apply knowledge to assess local vulnerabilities and resilience strategies.
Session format: Blended (In-class + online pre-study)
Focus: on real-time disaster response simulation and climate-adaptation strategy building.
Inclusivity & sustainability focus:
- Focus on climate justice, Indigenous populations, urban poor,
- Promotes communication tools for public awareness,
- Builds interdisciplinary teamwork and decision-making capacity.
Discussion questions:
1. What are examples of diseases directly influenced by temperature and precipitation?
2. How do extreme weather events cause both short- and long-term health consequences?
3. How do climate-sensitive diseases disproportionately affect vulnerable populations?
4. What are the most effective prevention and adaptation strategies for extreme heat and vector-borne diseases?
5. How can public health systems become more resilient to climate variability?
The instructor:
- Presents the WHO/CDC classification of climate-sensitive diseases and global data trends.
- Showcases case studies from recent climate disasters (2022 Europe heatwave, floods in Pakistan, wildfires in Canada).
- Leads a simulation exercise on designing a climate-adapted health alert system.
Students:
- Participate in a group mapping exercise on regional climate-health vulnerabilities.
- Analyze case studies and propose public health responses.
- Draft an infographic or factsheet on one climate-sensitive disease for public communication.
- Engage in peer review and feedback of proposed interventions.
Assignments
Before the session: 1) Read WHO: “Protecting health from climate change: A toolkit for adaptation”, https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/104200/9789241564687_eng.pdf; 2) Watch short video: “Climate Change and Vector-Borne Diseases” (UNEP, 2022), https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1uI0EjY38d8&pp=0gcJCfwAo7VqN5tD.
During the session: 1) Simulation: respond to an early warning alert for a climate-health emergency; 2) Group discussion and presentation: best practices in adaptation strategies.
After the session: 1) Submit Diary #2: “Local risks and adaptation strategies for climate-sensitive diseases in my region” (2 pages); 2) Optional: Share infographic on Moodle discussion board
Recommended reading & resources:
- WHO. (2021). Climate change and health: Overview and toolkit. https://www.who.int/teams/environment-climate-change-and-health/climate-change-and-health/capacity-building/toolkit-on-climate-change-and-health;
- IPCC AR6: Chapter on Health and Extreme Events,
- The Lancet Countdown on Health and Climate Change https://lancetcountdown.org/2024-report/;
- UNEP. Frontiers 2025. The Weight of Time (Climate-sensitive diseases and public health) https://www.unep.org/resources/frontiers-2025-weight-time;
- CDC: Climate Effects on Health – https://www.cdc.gov/climate-health/php/effects/index.html;
- OurWorldInData: Climate and Health interactive charts - https://ourworldindata.org/climate-change;
- WHO Heat-Health Action Plans - https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789289071918;
- Martinez GS, Kendrovski V, Salazar MA, de'Donato F, Boeckmann M. Heat-health action planning in the WHO European Region: Status and policy implications. Environ Res. 2022;214(Pt 1):113709. doi:10.1016/j.envres.2022.113709